Luckily, there are a number of things that you can do to make sure you are prepared for an earthquake in Los Angeles. If you’re planning to move, you may want to consider getting a home in the area that is built on a fault, like the Palos Verdes Fault, which has been studied in recent years as a possible link between the San Andreas Fault and the Los Angeles Fault.
New study suggests Palos Verdes fault system is connected
Previously thought to be a complex of separate little faults, the Palos Verdes fault zone may actually be a single fault that can rupture a large area. New study suggests that this fault zone could generate a magnitude 7.8 earthquake.
A magnitude 7.8 quake could cause widespread damage in Los Angeles and could even destroy buildings and freeways in the area. Even a magnitude 7.3 quake could be devastating. If the fault system was ruptured it could produce local tsunamis in Santa Monica Bay and the Long Beach Harbor.
The Palos Verdes fault zone extends for 70 miles along the southern coastal regions of Los Angeles and Orange counties. It runs beneath Santa Monica Bay, Long Beach, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It is considered an active fault zone.
Los angeles fault could produce a quake of a magnitude comparable to one from the San Andreas fault
Thousands of homes could be destroyed in a quake on the Los Angeles fault. A new study suggests that the zone of faults could trigger a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. This would be a huge shock to a city with millions of people.
An earlier study estimated that the Palos Verdes fault zone could trigger a magnitude 7.4 quake. However, new modeling has tripled the earthquake hazard.
The new study found that the fault could rupture over 70 miles of the coast. It is believed to be connected to the San Andreas Fault. The fault is located beneath the ports of Long Beach and L.A. It also runs beneath Rolling Hills Estates.
A quake could cut off Los Angeles’ major water supply. The aqueducts that bring most of the city’s water could be destroyed. The water network would be shut down for several weeks to months. The infrastructure at airports and ports could be damaged.
Building damage to look out for in an earthquake
Having a good earthquake prediction for Los Angeles can provide you with information on how to protect yourself from the consequences of a big quake. Los Angeles is a densely populated area, and there are many fault systems in the area. Those faults have the potential to cause massive devastation.
The USGS has a comprehensive real time earthquake monitoring program. In addition, two groups of researchers estimate the probability of a major shaker along the San Andreas Fault in the next two decades. The USGS says that parts of the San Andreas Fault are overdue for a significant earthquake.
A computer simulation predicts a 186-mile rupture from Bombay Beach to Lake Hughes. The USGS’s own model includes slippage of 2-7 meters, or roughly a half-mile.
5.1 magnitude quake hit along the Calaveras fault
During the morning hours of Tuesday, February 5th, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck the Calaveras fault near San Jose. The epicenter was located east of Seven Trees, a census-designated place in San Jose.
The quake jolted San Jose before noon, and left residents feeling the brunt of the shakes. It was the biggest earthquake in the Bay Area in eight years. It was also the first one to hit the area since a 6.0 magnitude quake in Napa wine country on August 24, 2014.
USGS forecasts a magnitude 3 or greater quake to hit the area within a week. The USGS also says there is an 11 percent chance of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake in the Calaveras Fault system within the next 30 years. The Calaveras Fault is a branch of the San Andreas Fault system. It runs from San Juan Bautista in the south to San Ramon in the north.
Seismologist Lucy Jones offers insight into dubious earthquake forecasts
Throughout her career, Lucy Jones has done more to ease the fears of earthquake-prone residents than most. She is a noted scientist and science communicator who has made it her mission to educate the public about scientific information and communicate the most important and cost-effective ways to reduce the risks associated with natural disasters.
As an earthquake scientist, she has been one of the most active in the field of earthquake research for the past 33 years. She has also been on the forefront of seismic safety policy in California for the past several years. She is currently the Executive Director of the California Seismic Safety Commission, where she works to increase public awareness about seismic hazards and improve the state’s response to natural disasters.